Kurzweil PC3K6, Musician'S Manual

Page: 83 / 381

Program Mode
The LAYER Page
6-25
Repeat this for each layer in the program. Bear in mind that if you want to set up 32 different
velocity levels for a program, with equal intervals between each layer, then you have a range of
4 for each level (Layer 1 is 0–3, Layer 2 is 4–7, and so on). It won’t be easy to play precisely
enough to trigger the layer you want. On the other hand, if you’re using Song mode or an
external sequencer, you can edit attack velocity levels, and get exactly the results you want.
Opaque
An opaque layer blocks all higher ‐ numbered layers in its range, allowing only the opaque layer
to play. This is an easy way to change a small range of notes in a program, leaving the original
sound playing above and below the new sound.
Start with a one ‐ layer program, and create a new layer (Layer 2) with the NewLyr soft button.
On the KEYMAP page for Layer 2, select the keymap you want to use, then on the LAYER page,
set Layer 2’s range (say, C 3 to D 3), and set its Opaque parameter to On . Then go to Layer 1, and
duplicate it (with the DupLyr soft button); the duplicate layer becomes Layer 3. You now have a
three ‐ layer program. Delete Layer 1 (the original layer); Layer 2 (the new layer you created)
becomes Layer 1, and Layer 3 becomes Layer 2. Now Layer 2 blocks out Layer 3 (the duplicate
of the original layer) at the notes C 3–D 3.
Sustain Pedal (SusPdl)
When this parameter is on, the layer will respond to all sustain messages (Controller destination
64, Sustain). When off, the current layer will ignore sustain messages. On2 means that the
sustain pedal will not catch the release of a note that is still sounding when the sustain message
is received; this can be very useful in a program that uses amplitude envelopes with a long
release time.
Sostenuto Pedal (SosPdl)
When Sostenuto is on, the layer will respond to all sostenuto messages (Controller destination
66, Sostenuto). When off, the layer ignores sostenuto messages. Sostenuto, as you may know, is a
feature found on pianos that have three pedals. Pressing the Sostenuto pedal on a piano (usually
the middle pedal) sustains the notes whose keys you were holding down when you pressed the
pedal. Notes played after the pedal is already down do not get sustained.
Freeze Pedal (FrzPdl)
This parameter activates or deactivates the layer’s response to Freeze pedal messages
(Controller destination 69, Freeze). The Freeze pedal control causes all notes that are on to
sustain without decay until the Freeze pedal control goes off. If a note is already decaying, it will
freeze at that level.
Ignore Release (IgnRel)
When on, the layer will ignore all Note Off messages received by the PC3K. This should be used
only with sounds that decay naturally, otherwise the sounds will sustain forever. When IgnRel is
off, the layer responds normally to Note Off messages. This parameter can come in handy when
your PC3K is slaved to a drum machine or sequencer, which sometimes generates Note Ons and
Note Offs so close together that the envelope doesn’t have time to play before the note is
released. You’ll also want to use this parameter when you’re playing staccato, and the sound
you’re playing has a long amplitude envelope. This parameter should be used only with notes
that eventually decay to silence. Sustaining sounds will sustain forever.
Do not use Ignore Release with Monophonic programs (page 6 ‐ 34).